Gov’t tables SSP 1.3 trillion 2022/2023 fiscal budget before parliament

JUBA – South Sudan’s finance minister, Agak Achuil Lual, on Wednesday tabled a 1.3 trillion South Sudanese Pound budget for fiscal years 2022-2023 before the parliament.

The draft budget aims to address what the minister described as endogenous factors such as poor roads, infrastructure, inter-communal conflict, and insecurity.

The annual budget is projected from oil and non-oil revenues including grants from other countries. Oil revenue contributes to SSP 715.7 billion SSP, while non-oil revenue accounts for SSP 513.6 billion.

The budget includes an upward adjustment of 20 percent in the pay scale for all public sector employees.

Achuil said the budget has a deficit of SSP 560 billion which will be financed through borrowing and other sources.

Achuil added that SSP 198.2 billion will cover wages and salaries, and SSP 165.3 billion will be used for the purchase of goods and services.

“The total expenditure proposal for the fiscal year 2022/2023 is SSP 1.3 trillion. Of this amount, SSP 198.2 billion goes to wages and salaries, SSP 165.3 billion for the use of goods and services, and SSP 128.9 billion in the capital,” Achuil said during a parliamentary sitting on Tuesday.

“Another expenditure is SSP 5.2 billion, SSP 15 billion is allocated for peace implementation and SSP 13.5 billion is contingency.”

He said SSP 67.1 billion has been allocated for salary arrears for foreign missions and SSP 41.6 billion to administrative areas.

“We will particularly focus on improving infrastructure to create a more conducive environment for investment and diversification away from oil,” he said.

“While at the same time focus on the social sector in order to mitigate pervasive poverty and embark on the sustainable livelihood of our people.”

The accountability sector has been allocated SSP 2.3 billion, followed by the economic function sector with SSP 73.1 billion.

The education sector will receive SSP 107.8 billion and the health sector with SSP 33.7 billion.

The infrastructure sector is given SSP 12.5 billion in addition to oil for road projects of SSP 238.2 billion.

The natural resource sector has been allocated SSP 67.3 billion.

The public administration sector has been given SSP 117.3 billion and rule of law sector with SSP 31.7 billion.

The security sector received SSP 75.3 and social and humanitarian affairs with SSP 6.1 billion.